JP2001025712A - Postal sorting device and trouble detecting system therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an trouble detecting system for specifying an troubled location by judging, when abnormal sound is noticed in operation or on periodical inspection, whether it is an abnormal one. SOLUTION: In a specified measuring point having a postal sorting and accumulating device 71, a sound sensor 42 is installed, and sound data measured by the sound sensor 42 are transmitted to a center 73. A sound analysis device 62 of the center 73 uses the transmitted sound data and normal sound data previously stored in an information storing part 64 to perform sound analysis, and the analysis results thereof are diagnosed by a diagnosis program tool 63 to perform obstacle detection.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fault detecting system for a mail sorting device, and more particularly, to a mail sorting device and a diagnostic device for detecting a fault in a mail sorting device provided at a location remote from the mail sorting device. It relates to a fault detection system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional technique, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.
There is an abnormality monitoring system using an abnormality detection device such as a thermal power plant or an industrial large plant as a device to be diagnosed as shown in 4000. In this conventional technique, a video detector and an audio detector are fixedly provided at each of a plurality of measurement points of a device to be diagnosed, and an abnormal state is determined by performing arithmetic processing on the extracted video data or sound data. I have. The sound data is determined to be abnormal by comparison operation with sound data in a normal state stored in advance.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned prior art, since a staff member does not approach the apparatus to be diagnosed during operation, it is necessary to install an image detector and an acoustic detector at each measurement point. In addition, in order to detect a plurality of locations by a certain video detector and a sound detector, the drive of the video detector and the sound detector is controlled. In this case, a special configuration called drive control is required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a failure detection system which can detect a failure of a mail sorting device with a simple configuration without requiring many detectors when detecting a failure of the mail sorting device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a failure detection system capable of detecting a failure of a mail sorting device by comparing a sound generated in a certain mail sorting device with a sound generated in another mail sorting device. Is to do.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a detecting means for detecting a sound generated in a mail sorting apparatus, a plurality of mounting means for mounting the detecting means, and the detecting means. Instructing means for instructing a part of the attaching means to be attached, display means for displaying the part of the attaching means instructed by the instructing means, and converting sound detected by the detecting means into digitized sound data. Conversion means, storage means for storing the sound detected by the detection means as sound data converted by the conversion means, sound data converted by the conversion means and sound data stored in the storage means In comparison, analysis means for analyzing a failure of the mail sorting device, and failure of the mail sorting device based on the analysis result of the analysis means. And configured to have a judging means for judging whether or not.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mail sorting system comprising: a plurality of mail sorting apparatuses for transporting and sorting mail; and a diagnostic device connected to the plurality of mail sorting apparatuses. In the apparatus failure detection system, each of the plurality of postal sorting devices includes a detecting unit that detects a sound generated in the postal sorting device, a plurality of mounting units for mounting the detecting unit, and the detecting unit detects the sound. Conversion means for converting the converted sound into digitized sound data, and control means for controlling transmission of the sound data converted by the conversion means and a portion where the detection means detecting the sound is attached to the diagnostic device. Having a sound data converted by the conversion means, the sound detected by the detection means attached to a certain part in one postal sorting device and Comparing means for comparing the sound detected by the detecting means attached to the same part as the part with the sound data converted by the converting means in another postal sorting apparatus; and based on the comparison result of the comparing means, And a judging means for judging a failure of the postal sorting apparatus.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a failure detection system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a mail sorting / accumulating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The bundle of mail placed on the hopper 1 is separated one by one by the separation unit 2. The separated mail is transported to the reading unit 4 through the transport path 3. After the address information is read by the reading unit 4, it is conveyed to the branch conveyance path 6 through the conveyance path 5. In the branch transport path 6, mails are sorted to each stage based on the information read by the reading unit 4. Thereafter, the postal matter is conveyed to a stacking unit 7 composed of a plurality of stacking boxes arranged in a matrix, and is stacked in a stacking box assigned based on information read by the reading unit 4 through a conveying path 8 of each stage. Is done.
In this way, the mail is sorted and collected in a desired collecting box based on the address information.

[0010] The transport path of the apparatus (the above 3, 5, 6, 8)
As shown in FIG. 1B, for example, a mail 18 is nipped and conveyed by a pair of upper and lower conveyor belts 12 driven by a motor 18. The power of the motor 18 is transferred to the transport belt 12.
The components to be transmitted to the motor include a motor roller 17, a drive roller 14 attached to the motor shaft, a drive belt 16 applied to the motor roller 17 and the drive roller 14, a bearing penetrating the attachment plate 11 and attached to the attachment plate 11. The shaft 15 designated by 19 is comprised of a transport roller 13 and a drive roller 14 attached to both sides of the shaft 15 with the attachment plate 11 of the shaft 15 interposed therebetween. When the control unit 41 issues an instruction to start the motor 18, the motor 18 rotates according to an instruction from the electronic control unit 51-1 of the motor 18, and power is transmitted to rotate the transport belt 12. In this way, the transport path is composed of a number of elements, and the belts, rollers, bearings, motors, etc. emit their respective sounds and mix.

As shown in FIG. 1 (a), as shown in FIG. 1 (a), a liquid crystal 23 for displaying sorting information of each stacking box, a printer 24 for outputting information, a staff operation unit 25 for staff operation, a state of the apparatus, etc. Are displayed, and each emits a sound.

FIG. 1C shows the back of the apparatus. When the door 20 is opened, the motor 18, the motor roller 17, the drive roller 14, the drive belt 16, the mounting plate 11,
Not only are many combinations of the electronic control units 51-1 of the bearing 19 and the motor 18 arranged, but also there are many other components. A pump 21 for sucking air for sucking mail one by one in the separation unit 2, a power supply 2 for each electronic component
2, a fan 26 for cooling a power supply and the like, electronic control units 51-2, 51-3,... Of each electronic component, etc., which also emit sound.

Here, the mail sorting / accumulating apparatus which is the apparatus to be diagnosed includes 50-1 and 50-2 in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (c).
As shown in 50-3..., Sound measurement points are displayed. In order to detect an obstacle, it is preferable that the sound measurement points are mainly provided in the vicinity of a desired object such as the motor 18, the bearing 19, and the fan 26.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a fault detection system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

A command for electronic components such as the motor 18, the pump 21, the power supply 22, the printer 24, and the fan 26 is first sent from the control unit 41 to the respective electronic control units 51-1 and 51.
, 51-3,..., And from there to each electronic component. An instruction to the control unit 41 can be input from the operation unit 25 and the keyboard 43, the information display unit 27 can display information from the control unit 41, and the information storage unit 46 can store various information. Measurement points 50-1, 50-
Are connected so that the control unit 41 is notified that the sound sensor 42 is fixed at 2, 50-3,. The sound data measured by the sound sensor 42 at the measurement points 50-1, 50-2, 50-3,... Is digitally converted by the A / D converter 45 and sent to the control unit 41.

The control unit 41 of the postal sorting / accumulating device 71, which is the device to be diagnosed, can communicate with the center control unit 61 of the center 73, which is the diagnostic device, via a line 72. The center control unit 61 is connected with an acoustic analysis device 62 that performs acoustic analysis of sound data, a diagnostic program tool 63 that performs diagnosis from the analysis data, and an information storage unit 64 that stores sound data and analysis data. The reproduced sound can be returned to analog by the D / A converter 65 and can be heard from the speaker 67 through the amplifier 66.
An instruction to the center control unit 61 can be input from the operation unit 69 and the keyboard 70, and the information display unit 68 can display information from the control unit 61.

FIG. 3 shows measurement points 50-1, 50-2,
50-3...

In the example shown in FIG. 3A, a magnet 82 is mounted on the mounting plate 11, a case 81 having a magnetic material bottom is fixed to the sound sensor 42, and a magnetic sensor 83 which operates when the magnetic material comes into close contact with the magnet 82. Are connected so that the state of the magnetic sensor 83 is transmitted to the control unit 41. Case 8
When the sound sensor 42 is fixed to the measurement point by bringing the sound sensor 42 into close contact with the magnet 82, the magnetic sensor 83 is activated, and the control unit 41 is notified that the sound sensor 42 is fixed at the measurement point.

FIG. 3B shows an example in which a female screw 86 is attached to the mounting plate 11.
A case 84 having a male screw bottom is fixed to the sound sensor 42, and an optical sensor 85 that operates when the sound sensor 42 is attached to the female screw 86 is provided.
Is connected to be transmitted to the control unit 41.
When the case 84 is attached to the female screw 86 and the sound sensor 42 is fixed to the measurement point, the optical sensor 85 operates, and the control unit 41 is notified that the sound sensor 42 is fixed at the measurement point.

In FIG. 3, sound data collected by the sound sensor 42 is sent to an A / D converter 45 connected to the sound sensor 42 by a cable and is converted into a digital signal. May be configured to wirelessly transmit sound data to the A / D converter 45. Alternatively, the A / D converter 45 is integrated with the control unit 41, and when attaching the sound sensor 42 to the measurement point 50-n, an electric connection unit different from the magnet 82 or the screw 86 is provided to provide a sound connection. The data may be transmitted from the electrical connection unit to the control unit 41 and converted into a digital value.

Next, a diagnosis process in the fault detection system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to a diagnosis control flow shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagnosis control flow when a measurement point is designated from the center 73 side. Center control unit 6
When information on the measurement point position is input to the operation unit 1 from the operation unit 69 (101), the information display unit 27 is transmitted via the control unit 41.
Is displayed (102). When the staff fixes the sound sensor 42 at the displayed measurement point position (103), information on the completion of the fixation is sent from the magnetic sensor 83, the optical sensor 85, etc. to the center control unit 61 via the control unit 41 (10).
4). When the center control unit 61 receives the fixing completion information, a preparation completion instruction is sent to the control unit 41 (105), and the preparation is displayed on the information display unit 27 (106). When the attendant inputs a sorting machine operation command from the operation unit 25 (107), information indicating that the operation command has been input is sent to the center control unit 61 via the control unit 41 (108). Here, the center control unit 61
Through the control unit 41, the sound sensor 42 issues a sound data collection start instruction (109, 110). The collected sound data is digitally converted by the A / D converter 45 (111) and transmitted to the center control unit 61 via the control unit 41 (112). The transmitted sound data is sent to the acoustic analyzer 62 together with the normal sound data of the measurement point stored in the information storage unit 64 in advance, and the sound data is compared and subjected to acoustic analysis (11).
3). The analysis data of the analysis result is the diagnostic program tool 6.
3 and a diagnosis is performed, and it is determined whether or not a failure has occurred, and the location of the failure is specified (114).

The magnetic sensor 83 and the optical sensor 8 shown in FIG.
In a configuration in which the fixation completion information is not automatically sent to the center control unit 61 by omitting step 5, the staff can input the fixation completion information from the operation unit 25 or the keyboard 27 in the above (103).

FIG. 5 is a diagnosis control flow when a measurement point is specified on the device to be diagnosed. When the staff fixes the sound sensor 42 at an arbitrary measurement point (121), the information of the completion of the fixation and the information of the fixed measurement point position are transmitted from the magnetic sensor 83, the optical sensor 85, and the like via the control unit 41 to the center control unit 61. (122, 123). When the center control unit 61 receives the information on the measurement point position, a preparation completion instruction is sent to the control unit 41 (124), and the preparation is displayed on the information display unit 27 (125). When the attendant inputs a sorting machine operation command from the operation unit 25 (126), information indicating that the operation command has been input is sent to the center control unit 61 via the control unit 41 (127). Here, the center control unit 61
Through the control unit 41, the sound sensor 42 issues a sound data collection start instruction (128, 129). The collected sound data is digitally converted by the A / D converter 45 (130) and transmitted to the center control unit 61 via the control unit 41 (131). The transmitted sound data is sent to the sound analysis device 62 together with normal sound data of the measurement point stored in the information storage unit 64 in advance, and sound analysis is performed by comparing the sound data (132). ). The analysis data of the analysis result is sent to the diagnosis program tool 63, where the diagnosis is performed, and the occurrence of a failure is determined and the location of the failure is specified (133).

The magnetic sensor 83 and the optical sensor 8 shown in FIG.
5 is omitted, the fixing completion information and the information of the measurement point position are not automatically sent to the center control unit 61. You can also input information on the point position.

Here, since there are usually a plurality of sorter operation commands input from the operation unit 25 in (107) and (126), there are also a plurality of operation states corresponding to the commands, and this information is stored in the information storage unit 46, for example, as shown in FIG. In the form shown in FIG. For example, the command 91 is a power ON for normal operation, a normal operation ON, a motor test for maintenance and inspection, a pump test for maintenance and inspection, a printer test for maintenance and inspection, and the like. Accordingly, control program data 92 in which information on how to control electronic components such as the motor 18, the pump 21, the power supply 22, and the printer 24 is stored for each command. When the command 91 is input, each electronic component is controlled according to the corresponding control program data 92,
The sorting machine is operated.

The normal sound data stored in the information storage unit 64 of the center 73 as the sound data subjected to the acoustic analysis in (113) and (132) is, for example, as shown in FIG. Sound data 93 for each instruction 91
Is measured and stored in advance. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, sound data corresponding to a lapse of time after a driving command is input is stored in each of the data.
In the acoustic analysis and diagnosis of (113), (114), (132), and (133), the entire sound data may be compared, or the sound data after the value becomes constant may be compared. Alternatively, a specific time may be subjected to more detailed frequency analysis and compared.

In this way, the sound of the mail sorting device 71, which is the device to be diagnosed, is collected by the sound sensor and sent to the center 73 via the line for diagnosis, whereby the fault location can be specified at an early stage. Equipment down can be avoided. Here, when measurement is performed by comparing sound data at the same point, it is very important to perform measurement at the same sound sensor measurement position every time. If the position is shifted, another sound is mixed in, or the measurement level of each sound is different, resulting in different sound data to be measured. In the above failure detection system, the measurement point of the sound sensor is displayed on the device to be diagnosed, and can be fixed with a screw-in type, a magnet, or the like.
Since the same measurement position can be reproduced every time, the reliability is high, and since the sound sensor is detachable, operability is good. In addition, since the sound data is converted to digital data so that the sound quality of the sound data does not change and is transmitted to the center 73, highly reliable diagnosis can be performed.

Further, by transmitting to the center 73 a pair of the part to which the sound sensor 42 is attached and the sound data collected by the sound sensor 42 attached to the part, a plurality of sound data can be analyzed simultaneously. In addition, a failure can be detected.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a display screen of the information display section 27 of the postal sorting apparatus which is the apparatus to be diagnosed. FIGS. 10A and 10B are screen display examples when a measurement point is specified from the center 73. FIG. For example, when information for giving an instruction to attach the sound sensor 42 to the measurement point 50-3 is transmitted from the center 73 to the mail sorting device 71, a screen as shown in FIG.
When a plurality of measurement points are designated as 50-1 to 50-3, a screen as shown in FIG. 10B is displayed on the information display unit 27. FIG. 10C is an example of a screen display when a measurement point is specified on the mail sorting apparatus side.
From the measurement points displayed on the screen, a point at which the sound sensor 42 is to be attached can be selected and designated.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a display screen of the information display section 68 of the center 73. When the measurement point is specified from the center 73 and when the measurement point is specified from the mail sorting device, the sound sensor 42 is used as the measurement point.
Are displayed, an item indicating whether the mail sorting device is ready to collect sound data, an operation status of the mail sorting device, and an item indicating the sound data collecting status.

In the above embodiment, the apparatus to be diagnosed is a postal sorting / stacking apparatus as an example of the apparatus to be diagnosed. However, any apparatus having a mechanical or electrical operation can be applied. This is, for example, a device such as an automatic teller machine. Further, even if a pure electronic device that does not involve a mechanical operation, such as the electronic control units 51-1, 51-2,.
The present invention can be applied to, for example, detecting a high frequency sound due to a failure of an electronic component. In the above-described embodiment, the remote operation through the line is illustrated. However, the center 73 may be a movable diagnostic device, and the diagnostic device and the diagnostic device may be adjacent to each other for the diagnosis. Further, the line 72 is deleted, the control unit 41 is directly connected to the center control unit 61, and all the components of the center 73 shown in FIG. May be.

Conversely, as shown in FIG. 3, if one center 73 can communicate with a plurality of postal sorting machines 71 via a line 72, a plurality of postal sorting units distant from one center can be communicated. Since the analysis can be performed by switching the machine 71, the number of diagnostic devices to be installed can be reduced, and the cost can be greatly reduced.

In this way, a plurality of devices to be diagnosed at remote locations are managed by one centralized management center, so that sound data of a plurality of devices to be diagnosed can be simultaneously collected by one diagnostic device. Be able to compare.

Specifically, in the diagnosis flow of FIG. 4, first, the sound data transmitted at (112) from each of the plurality of postal sorting / stacking devices 71 is sent to the center 73 side, and then (113) Instead of acoustically analyzing the sound data and the normal sound data measured in the above, the flow is made to compare the data measured by the plurality of postal sorting / stacking devices 71. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, one diagnostic apparatus can simultaneously collect and compare.

As described above, when it is determined whether a certain device to be diagnosed is abnormal, not only is it compared with the sound data in a normal state stored in advance, but also with the sound data of other operating devices. Since the comparison can be performed, a more reliable diagnosis can be performed.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), an arm 87 having the camera 44 attached to the end from the case 81, 84 can be provided so that the image of the fault location can be viewed. The image data of the camera 44 is displayed on the information display unit 27 from the control unit 41 shown in FIG.
Is displayed on the information display section 68. 3 (a) and 3 (b)
The camera 44 is attached to a movable arm 88 whose position and direction are variable as shown in FIG.
7 and the operation unit 6 of the center 73 in FIG.
9 or an instruction to move the image from the keyboard 70, the center controller 61
It is convenient to move the image captured by the camera 44 by moving the movable arm 88 via. Of course, when an instruction to move the image is input from the operation unit 25 or the keyboard 43, the movable arm 88 can be moved via the control unit 41 to move the image captured by the camera 44, or the movable arm 88 can be manually moved. May be moved.

As described above, by moving the camera 44 and the sound sensor 42 at the same time, it is possible to more accurately and precisely transmit the information of the failure location.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, the number of video detectors and sound detectors to be installed can be reduced, and the number of diagnostic devices to be installed can be reduced, so that the cost can be greatly reduced. . In addition, not only is it possible to compare with sound data of a normal state stored beforehand at the time of abnormality determination, but also with sound data of other operating devices, so that more reliable diagnosis can be performed. Can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a mail sorting / accumulating apparatus that is a device to be diagnosed in a failure detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a failure detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a measurement point shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagnostic control flow of the fault detection system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagnosis control flow of the fault detection system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing contents of an information storage unit 46 of the mail sorting device 71.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing contents of an information storage unit 64 of a center 73.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing sound data analyzed by the acoustic analysis device 62 of the center 73.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a plurality of sound data that are compared and analyzed by the acoustic analysis device 62 of the center 73.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen display example displayed on the information display unit 27 of the mail sorting device 71.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a screen display example displayed on an information display section 68 of a center 73.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Hopper, 2 ... Separation part, 3 ... Transport path, 4
... Reading unit, 5 ... Convey path, 6 ... Branch conveyance path, 7 ... Collecting unit, 8 ... Convey path, 11 ... Mounting plate, 12 ... Convey belt, 13 ... Conveying rollers, 1
4 ... drive roller, 15 ... shaft, 16 ...
Drive belt, 17 ... Motor roller, 18 ... Motor, 19 ... Bearing, 20 ... Door, 21 ... Pump, 22 ... Power supply, 23 ... Liquid crystal, 24 ... Printer, 25 ... operation unit, 26 ... fan, 27 ...
Information display unit, 41 control unit, 42 sound sensor, 43 keyboard, 44 camera, 45
..A / D converter, 46... Information storage unit, 50-
1, 50-2, 50-3 ... 50-n, 50-n +
1, 50-n + 2 ..... measurement point, 51-
1, 51-2, 51-3 ... 51-n, 51-n +
1, 51-n + 2 ..... electronic control unit, 61 ...
Center control unit, 62 ... Acoustic analysis device, 63 ... Diagnostic program tool, 64 ... Information storage unit, 65 ...
D / A converter, 66 amplifier, 67 speaker, 68 information display section, 69 operation section, 7
0 ... keyboard, 71 ... postal sorting device, 7
2 ... line, 73 ... center, 81 ... case,
82 magnet, 83 magnetic sensor, 84 case, 85 optical sensor, 86 female screw, 87
... arm, 88 ... movable arm, 91 ... command, 92 ... control program data, 93 ... normal sound data, 101-114, 121-133 ... control diagram

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A mail sorting apparatus for conveying and sorting mails, detecting means for detecting a sound generated in the mail sorting apparatus, a plurality of mounting means for mounting the detecting means, and the mail sorting apparatus. A display unit that displays a part of the attachment unit that attaches the detection unit that is transmitted from an external device connected to the display unit; a conversion unit that converts sound detected by the detection unit into digitized sound data; Control means for controlling transmission of the sound data converted by the means and a portion to which the detection means having detected the sound is attached to an external device. 2. A mail sorting apparatus for conveying and sorting mails, comprising: detecting means for detecting a sound generated in the mail sorting apparatus; a plurality of mounting means for mounting the detecting means; Instruction means for instructing the position of the attachment means to be attached; display means for displaying the position of the attachment means for attaching the detection means instructed by the instruction means; and a sound obtained by digitizing the sound detected by the detection means. Conversion means for converting the sound data converted by the conversion means and a portion to which the detection means is attached to an external device connected to the postal sorting apparatus. Postal sorting equipment. A detecting means for detecting a sound generated in the mail sorting apparatus; a plurality of mounting means for mounting the detecting means; an indicating means for indicating a part of the mounting means for mounting the detecting means; Display means for displaying the part of the attachment means instructed by the instruction means; conversion means for converting sound detected by the detection means into digitized sound data; and normality detected by the detection means in the part Storage means for storing a sound as sound data converted by the conversion means; comparison means for comparing the sound data converted by the conversion means with the sound data stored in the storage means; comparison of the comparison means Determining means for determining whether or not the mail sorting device has a failure based on the result. Equipment failure detection system. 4. A failure detection system for a mail sorting device, comprising: a plurality of mail sorting devices for conveying and sorting mail; and a diagnostic device connected to the plurality of mail sorting devices. Are detecting means for detecting a sound generated in the mail sorting device, a plurality of mounting means for mounting the detecting means, and conversion for converting the sound detected by the detecting means into digitized sound data. Means, and control means for controlling transmission of the sound data converted by the conversion means and a part to which the detection means that has detected the sound is attached to the diagnosis device, wherein the diagnosis device has one mail. The sound detected by the detecting means attached to a certain part in the sorting device corresponds to the sound data converted by the converting means and the part in another mail sorting device. Comparing means for comparing sound data converted by the converting means with sound detected by the detecting means attached to the portion to be detected, and determining means for determining a failure of the one mail sorting device based on a comparison result of the comparing means And a failure detection system for a mail sorting device. 5. A detecting means for detecting a sound, a plurality of mounting means for mounting the detecting means, and a part of the mounting means for mounting the detecting means transmitted from a diagnostic device connected to the mail sorting apparatus. Display means for displaying the sound, conversion means for converting the sound detected by the detection means into digitized sound data, and sound data converted by the conversion means and a part to which the detection means for detecting the sound are attached. A mail sorting device having control means for controlling transmission of the postal data to an external device; storage means for storing in advance the normal sound data generated in the mail sorting device in association with a portion to which the detection means is attached; Instructing means for instructing a part of the attaching means for attaching the detecting means of the apparatus, and a part instructed by the instructing means to the postal zone. Based on the sound data transmitted from the mail sorting device and the part to which the detecting means that has detected the sound data is attached, based on the transmitting means for transmitting to the separating apparatus, and the part stored in the storing means in advance. Analyzing means for comparing the analyzed sound data with the sound data transmitted from the mail sorting apparatus, and determining means for judging a failure of the mail sorting apparatus based on an analysis result of the analyzing means. A failure detection system for a mail sorting device consisting of a diagnostic device.